What is it that causes the students at the exclusive St. Charles Catholic Boarding School for Boys to select from among themselves one who is perfectly willing to be brutally victimised by the others?
One boy has an eye gouged out. Another loses a finger. Yet another is beaten up, stripped and left bleeding hung from the crucifix in the chapel.
Violence erupts so regularly that the teachers are cautioned never to leave their students unattended.
Is the cause the strange jealousy between two of the masters – the cold, unbending, much-hated Latin teacher Jerome Malley (James Mason) – nicknamed “Lash” by his students – and the apparently good-natured and popular English teacher Joe Dobbs (Robert Preston)?
Malley’s ancient mother (who is dying of cancer) has been getting obscene phone calls about him. He blames all this on Dobbs. Dobbs, in turn, accuses Malley of being paranoid.
When former student Paul Reis (Beau Bridges) returns as the new gym teacher, he brings a wholesome normality to the strange atmosphere and lends his support to the Catholic priests and teachers who are trying vainly to counter these forces of evil.
This is a weird and brooding movie which leaves its audience with the feeling that just beyond the normal is a world (and not a very nice one) far beyond our understanding.
The role of Dobbs was initially intended for Marlon Brando, who – for some Brando-esque reason – backed out (and was sued by producer David Merrick).
The film used students from Iona Preparatory School in New Rochelle, New York, as extras.
Jerome Malley
James Mason Joseph Dobbs
Robert Preston Paul Reis
Beau Bridges Father Mozian
Ron Weyand Father Griffin
Charles White Father Penny
David Rounds Mrs Carter
Kate Harrington Sheppard
Jamie Alexander O’Donnell
Brian Chapin Jennings
Bryant Fraser Wilson
Mark Hall Haefeli Shea
Tom Leopold McArdle
Julius Lo Iacono Travis
Christopher Man Banks
Paul O’Keefe Medley
Robert D. Randall Class President
Robbie Reed Students
Paul Alessi
Anthony Barletta
Kevin Coupe
Christopher Hoag
Stephen McLaughlin
Director
Sidney Lumet
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Violence erupts so regularly that the teachers are cautioned never to leave their students unattended.
The film used students from Iona Preparatory School in New Rochelle, New York, as extras.
Father Mozian
Jennings
Class President
